Spark retarding device



Feb. 14, 1933. M MALLORY 1,897,704

SPARK RETARDING DEVICE Filed NOV. 2, 1931 IIIIII tion,

`Patented Feb. 14, 1933 unifi-no srarns rnran'r ermee MARIQN MLLORY, 0F TOLEDO, @m0, ASSlGNOR T0 THE RESEARCH UOMv Y ANY, A QRPUBATION OF DELAWARE SPARK RETRDING DEVECE l application nea november a, raar. serial no. 572,579.

lhis invention relates to a spark retarding device adapted to be used in connection With the usual ignition timing mechanism for etecting an extreme retardation ot the spark when the engine is idling.

La the operation ot an internal combustion engine equipped with the usual timer,v in order to secure a smooth and steady performance `when the engine is idling, the timer must be initially set so that the spark l-vvill occur when the crank is 5D to 10o past dead center. With such setting however, When the throttle is initially opened, if the advance ot the timing depends directly or indirectly upon the engine speed, the pickup will necessarily be slow. n the other hand, it' the spark lis initially set Where it should be for the best l perormance `immediately after the throttle is opened, the idling operation of the engine Will be unsteady or will perhaps stop altogether.

'With the above facts in mind, it is an object ofthe present invention to provide, in addition to the usual timer controlling means, a supplementary control device `which is efrective to cause an extreme retardation of the spark *when the throttle is in idling position but is immediately rendered ineective as the throttle begins to open. This supplementary control device, in the present embodiment of the invention, comprises a solenoid which is adapted to be energized only `When an extreme retardation f the spark is desired, as for example, when thethrottle is in idling posicauses the circuit breaker or breakers to be advanced in thedirection oit rotation of the cam so as to cause the desired 4extreme ref, tardation ot the spark, but when the circuit through the solenoid is opened, the spark will he immediately advanced to the normal setmary ignition circuit with parts of the control device shown in plan or in section;

ldigure 2 1s a similar v1evv showing a mod1- tied term ot the mventlon; and

T/Vhen thus energized the solenoidl Figure 3 is a `vertical central section through the timer.,

As s hovvn in the drawing, the invention is i fmounted on studs 12 and 13 which project upwardly trom-a plate vlet mounted Within -the housing 5. These circuit breakers and 11 are set so that their closure periods over-l lap, thus increasing the total period during which a current passes through the primary coil and thereby increasing the saturation and insuring a hot spark.

. rlhe relative position-ot the sleeve 8 and cam 9 with reference to the timer shaft 7 is controlled through the medium of a plate 15 Which is secured to the sleeve by screvvs 16 or other suitable means and. advanced circumterentially by means of a `centrifugal governor 17 as the speed increases. @ther suitable means may, however, be employed to adjust the timing for the higher speeds.

llt Will be understood that when the engine is operating, the primary ignition circuit is L .from the battery 18 through the ignition switch 19, spark coil 2,0 and line 21, thence through the circuit breakers and ground back to the battery, one branch being through post 22, spring 23, contacts 24C and grounded post 25, the other branch being through the post 26, spring- 27, contact points 28 and grounded post 29.

Normally the timer Will be set so that at low speeds the spark will occur when the `titi crank is 5 to 10 past dead center and Will be gradually advanced upon a predetermined increase in speed of the engine.

ln accordance 4With the invention, provision is made for causing an extreme rev tardation otthe spark, independently ot the' other control mechanism, by advancin theV housing 5, together With the circuit brea ers,

in the direction in which the cam 9 is rotating as indicated by the arrow in Figs. 1

and 2, thus causing an extreme retardation of the spark. In effecting this movement of the housing 5, the latter is provided with an arm 30 which has a connection 31 with the core 32 of a solenoid 33. One terminal of the solenoid is connected to the ignition circuit, preferably between the switch 19 and the coil 20, and the other terminal is connected by a line 34 to a post 35 which is mounted in an insulating bushing 36.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the post 35 is located on or near the intake manifold 37. The throttle valve 38 is secured to a pivot pin 39 to which there is Secured a crank arm 40 connected with a throttle control rod 41. The crank 40 is provided with a contact 42`which engages the post 35 and completes a circuit through the solenoid 33 only when the throttle valve is in position for idling. When the solenoid 33 is thus energized, the core 32 moves to the left as indicated in the drawing and moves' the housing 5 and circuit breakers 10 and l1 in a direction to cause an eXtreme retardation ofv the spark.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the post is mounted in the end of a cylinder 43, which is connected by a conduit or nipple 44 with the intake manifold 37. A piston 45 within the cylinder 43 has a stem 46 which is adapted to contact with the post 35 to complete a circuit through the solenoid 33. The piston 45, however, is normally held by a sprlng 47 in a position to prevent the completion of the circuit through the solenoid except when the throttle valve is in idling position. In order to effect this result, the spring 47 is so tensioned that only the high vacuum developed in the manifold when the engine is idling will be suicient to overcome the tension of the spring and bring the stem 46 into contact with the post 35. Under the usual operating conditions, if the throttle is partially or wholly open there will not be as high a degree of vacuum in the manifold as is the case when the throttle is in closed or idling position.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that, with a proper setting of the Ic imer, whenever the engine is idling, there will be an extreme retardation of the spark which will insure a smooth performance. As soon as the throttle begins to open, however, the spark will be immediately advanced to a proper position for insuring a quick pick-up and as the speed of the engineV increases, the advance of the timing will be controlled in the usual normal manner.

It will be apparent that the invention may be incorporated in various other types of timers and that the arrangement may be modi- C5 i'ied in other ways without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ignition timing device, a primary circuit including a circuit breaker for controlling the timing of the ignition, a solenoid operable, when energized, to cause an extreme retardation of the timing7 and means shiftable under the influence of suction in the engine intake to energize the solenoid.

2. In an ignition timing device, a primary circuit including a circuit breaker for controlling the timing of the ignition and means to automatically advance the timing according to the speed, a solenoid operable when energized, to cause an extreme retardation of the timing, and means shiftable under the inluence of suction in the engine intake to energize the solenoid.

3. In an ignition timing device, means operable by itself to automatically control the timing in accordance with operating conditions, a solenoid operable, when energized, to modify the result of said means, and means shiftable under the influence of suction in the '90 engine intake to energize the solenoid.

4. In an ignition timing device, means operable by itself to automatically control the timing in accordance with operating conditions, a solenoid operable, when energized, to T retard the spark with reference to the timing effected by said means, and means shiftable under the influence of suction in the engine intake to energize the solenoid.

5. In an ignition timing device, a rimaryflpo circuit including a circuit breaker or controlling the timing of the ignition, a timer shaft, a cam mounted on the shaft for actuating the circuit breaker, means for automatically shifting the cam with reference to the T shaft to vary the time of ignition in accordance with operating conditions, a solenoid operable, when energized, to shift the circuit breaker in a direction to retard the timing, and means shiftable under the influence of (T10 suction in the engine intake to energize the solenoid.

6. In an ignition timing device, a primary circuit including a circult breaker for controlling the timing of the ignition, a timer T15 shaft, a cam mounted on the shaft for actuating the circuit breaker, means for automatically shifting the cam with reference to the shaft to vary the time of ignition in accordance with operating conditions, a solenoid '120 operable, when energized, to shift the circuit breaker in a direction to retard the timing, and means rendered effective, whenever the engine is idling, to close a circuit through said solenoid to energize the same. v

7. In an ignition timing device, a primary circuit including a circuit breaker for controlling the timing of the ignition, a solenoid operable, when energized, to cause an eXtreme retardation of the timing, and means ren- 130 dered effective, whenever the engine is idling, to energize said solenoid.

8. In an ignition timing device, a primary circuit including a circuit breaker for controlling the timing of the ignition, and means to automatically advance the timing according to the speed, a solenoid operable, when energized, to cause an extreme retardation of the timing, and means rendered effective, Whenever the engine is idling, toclose a circuit through said solenoid to energize the same.

9. In an ignition timing device, means operable by itself to automatically control the timing in accordance With operating conditions, a solenoid operable, when energized, to modify the result of said means, and means rendered effective, Whenever the engine is idling, to energize said solenoid.

10. In an ignition timing device, means operable by itself to automatically control the timing in accordance with operating conditions, a solenoid operable, when energized, to retard the spark With reference to the timing eected by said means, and means rendered effective, Whenever the engine is idling, to energize said solenoid.

ll. In an ignition timing device for internal combustion engines, a primary eircuit including a circuit breaker for controlling the timing of the ignition, a solenoid operable, when energized, to cause an eX- treme retardation of the timing, and means connected with the throttle to close the circuit through the solenoid Whenever the throttle is shifted to idling position. i

l2. In an ignition timing device for internal combustion engines, a primary circuit including a circuit breaker for controlling the timing of the ignition, means tending to automatically advance the timing according to the speed of the engine, a solenoid operable, when energized, to cause an extreme retardationvof the timing, and means connected with the throttle `to close the circuit through the solenoid Whenever the throttle is shifted to idling position.

13. In an ignition timing device for internal combustion engines, means operable by itself to automatically control the timing in accordance with operating conditions, a solenoid operable, when energized, to modify the result of said means, and means connected `with the throttle to close the circuit through the solenoid Whenever the throttle is shifted to idling position. c

14. In an ignition timing device for internal combustion engines, means4 operable by itself to automatically control the timing in accordance with operating conditions, a solenoid whenever the throttle is shifted to idling position.

15. In an ignition timing device for internal combustion engines, a primary circuit including a circuit breaker for controlling the timing of the ignition, a timer shaft, a cam mounted on the shaft for actuating the circuit breaker, means for automaticall shifting the cam with reference to the sha t to vary the time of ignition in accordance with operating conditions, a solenoid operable, when energized, to shift the circuit breaker in a direction to retard the timing, and means connected with the throttle to close the circuit through the solenoid Whenever the throttle is shifted to idling position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

MARION MALLRY.

IDO

noid operablefwhen energized, to retard the spark with reference .to the timing effected by said means, and means connected With the throttle to close the circuit through the sole- 

